TGI Friday's operator fined $500K in cheap liquor switcheroo

A New Jersey TGI Friday's franchisee accused of substituting cheap liquor for premium brands will not contest the charges and has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine, officials announced Wednesday.

Under the settlement, Briad Group will employ a monitor appointed by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control through next June. If no further violations are found by the end of that period, the restaurants will avoid a five-day suspension of their liquor licenses, according to a press release.

"This fine should send a clear message to every bar and restaurant throughout New Jersey that customers should get what they pay for every time without exception," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said in the press release.

Thirteen of Briad Group's TGI Friday's locations were raided last May as part of "Operation Swill," although charges were only levied against eight of them. Those restaurants were in West Orange, East Windsor, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Freehold, Marlboro, Hazlet and Linden.

The TGI Friday's locations were among 29 bars and restaurants in New Jersey raided in "Operation Swill" after an investigation revealed they were filling premium brand bottles with non-premium brands – or worse.

One unnamed establishment allegedly replaced Scotch whiskey with rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring, and another was accused of putting dirty water into a drink and passed it off as alcohol.

The investigation remains ongoing with respect to the other establishments targeted in "Operation Swill," according to Hoffman.